Russ Lemmon: Program gives high school students a taste of military (without the commitment)

<p>Sebastian River High School ROTC flag corp opened the start of the 8th Annual Dollars for Scholars Football Classic between Sebastian River High School and Vero Beach High School played in the Citrus Bowl on Friday, August 30, 2013. (FILE PHOTO)</p>

Because what he did three years ago helped changed the course of Nacomi Bell’s life.

Bell, now a Vero Beach High School senior, told the story of what happened when she was late for a class at the start of her freshman year. Dues didn’t let it slide.

As one of the instructors in the school’s Air Force Junior ROTC program, Dues had some stern words for the freshman cadet.

“It really helped open my eyes,” said Bell, who admits she had a problem with discipline before entering high school.

Look at her now, though.

She’s the Corps commander of the school’s JROTC program, which has 165 students.

“She’s at the top of the food chain,” Dues said.

The JROTC program — or Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps — was established at Vero Beach High School in the 1960s. She is the 64th Corps commander in school history.

Bell’s demeanor is the type you would expect to find in a future military officer.

Now, here’s something that might surprise you: She does not plan to go into the military after high school.

That’s one of the misperceptions people have about the JROTC. Only about 40 percent of those in the program go into the military.

“Another common misunderstanding is that we’re going to have them drop down and give us 20 push-ups,” said Randy Laws, one of the two Navy JROTC instructors at Sebastian River High School. “Our program doesn’t rely on screaming and yelling.”

That’s not to say the expectations aren’t high. To be sure, slackers need not apply.

“We’re a citizenship program primarily,” Laws said.

That is, the JROTC’s mission is to make leaders out of these young men and women.

JROTC is an elective at both high schools. But, again, it’s not something students can skate through.

“We’re an up-or-out elective,” Laws said.

Which means you’re promoted within the program each year, or you won’t be back the following year.

“There’s absolutely no obligations (for military service),” Laws said. “It’s nothing more than a ‘citizenship’ elective.”

At Sebastian River High School, Jim O’Neal is the JROTC instructor for all freshmen and Laws takes the sophomores, juniors and seniors.

“It’s great fun seeing them go from freshmen to seniors,” Laws said.

Vero Beach’s Dues said JROTC isn’t for everybody — just like football and basketball aren’t for everybody.

“Some kids don’t take it because they don’t like the uniform requirement,” he said.

JROTC student must wear their uniforms to school one day a week.

“The uniform,” Laws said, “I tie that into business attire.”

Dues agrees.

“Some ‘get it’ (the importance of a professional appearance) sooner rather than later,” he said.

As part of the drill team and color guard, Bell has been a part of the flag presentation at most of the VBHS home football games during the past few years.

“It’s one of the best feelings in the world,” she said. “I love football Fridays.”

At Vero Beach, the Air Force JROTC instructors are Dues and Michael Zoller.

“It’s a leadership class, more than anything,” Zoller said. “(It’s about developing) good citizens, and good people.”

Through these respective programs, students learn about the Air Force and Navy.

“The goal is to give students an understanding of the importance, and the role, of a military in a democratic society,” Laws said.

Bell, the VBHS senior, originally planned to join the military after high school.

“I wanted to be an Army combat nurse,” she said. “That was my dream.”

And now?

“I want to be an ER (Emergency Room) nurse,” she said.

Bell is thankful for her experience in the JROTC program.

“I like the discipline and direction it gives students,” she said.

The aforementioned tardy incident is a good example.

Dues nipped it in the bud.

Russ Lemmon is a columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. This column reflects his opinion. Contact him at 772-978-2205 or russ.lemmon@scripps.com. He will appear on WTTB 1490 AM’s “Local News Magazine” at 8:50 a.m. Friday.